How to Download Cinebench 2024
Your PC costs a lot of money. You deserve to know if it is actually performing the way it should. Cinebench 2024 gives you that answer in minutes. It is a free benchmarking tool built by Maxon that tests your CPU and GPU using the same Cinema 4D rendering engine used by professional 3D artists worldwide.
This guide is for PC builders, gamers, content creators, and tech reviewers who want a clear picture of their hardware performance. By the end, you will know exactly how to download, install, and run Cinebench 2024 on Windows or macOS, and how to read the results correctly.
What Is Cinebench 2024?
Cinebench 2024 is a free CPU and GPU benchmark developed by Maxon, the company behind Cinema 4D. It tests your processor across single-core and multi-core workloads, and it also measures GPU performance through the Redshift rendering engine. Unlike synthetic benchmarks that run abstract calculations, Cinebench uses a real production renderer. That means the scores reflect how your hardware handles actual creative workloads, not made-up math. It runs on Windows, macOS, and ARM-based devices, and it costs nothing to download or use.
Cinebench 2024 vs R23?
Cinebench 2024 is not just an update to R23. It is a completely different benchmark with a heavier scene, updated compilers, and a new GPU test powered by Redshift. Here is what changed:
• GPU benchmark is back: Cinebench 2024 includes a Redshift-powered GPU test that R23 did not have.
• The scene is far more complex: workloads are closer to real production rendering demands.
• Scores are on a new scale: you cannot compare 2024 results with R23, R20, or R15 results.
• Minimum runtime is on by default: this ensures results are from a stable, heat-soaked system.
• RAM requirement increased: Cinebench 2024 needs 16 GB of system memory, up from 4 GB in R23.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cinebench R23 | Cinebench 2024 |
| CPU Single-Core | Yes | Yes |
| CPU Multi-Core | Yes | Yes |
| GPU Benchmark | No | Yes (Redshift) |
| Score Comparable | R23 only | 2024 only |
| RAM Required | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Minimum Runtime | Optional | Default ON |
Cinebench 2024 System Requirements?
Before you download, check that your system meets the minimum specs. Running Cinebench 2024 on an underpowered machine can cause crashes or incomplete tests.
System Requirements at a Glance
| Component | Windows | macOS |
| OS | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | macOS 11.7 or later |
| RAM | 16 GB minimum | 16 GB unified memory |
| CPU | x86-64 (Intel or AMD) | Apple Silicon (M-series) |
| GPU VRAM | 8 GB+ for Redshift test | Shared unified memory |
| ARM Support | Snapdragon / Ampere Altra | M1, M2, M3 chips |
ARM Support
Cinebench 2024 also supports Snapdragon compute platforms and Ampere Altra CPUs. Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) is fully supported for both CPU and GPU tests.
Quick check before you proceed:
• Do you have 16 GB of RAM or more?
• Are you running Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or macOS 11.7+?
• For the GPU test, does your card have at least 8 GB of VRAM?
If you answered yes to all three, you are ready to download.
How to Download Cinebench 2024 – Step by Step
This is the most important section. Follow each step in order and you will have Cinebench 2024 on your system in under five minutes.
For Windows Users
1. Go to the official Maxon website a or a verified trusted source for Cinebench.
2. Click the Download button for Cinebench 2024.
3. Select the Windows version available as an .exe installer or a .zip archive.
4. Wait for the download to finish..
5. Open your Downloads folder and locate the installer file.
6. Run the .exe installer, or extract the .zip if you chose the portable version.
7. Follow the on-screen setup steps. Accept the license agreement when prompted.
8. Launch Cinebench 2024 from your desktop or Start menu. You are ready to benchmark.
For macOS Users
1. Visit the official Maxon download page from your browser.
2. Select the macOS version of Cinebench 2024.
3. Download the .dmg file to your Mac.
4. Open the .dmg file and drag the Cinebench app into your Applications folder.
5. Open Launchpad or your Applications folder and click Cinebench 2024 to launch it.
6. If macOS Gatekeeper shows a warning, go to System Settings, then Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway.
Is It Safe to Download?
Cinebench 2024 is completely safe when you download it from the official Maxon website or a verified trusted source. Maxon provides file checksums so you can verify the download has not been altered. Avoid third-party mirrors or torrent sites; these often bundle adware or outdated versions that may not produce accurate results.
How to Install Cinebench 2024 on Your PC
Download and installation are two separate steps. Here is what happens after the file lands in your Downloads folder:
1. Double-click the installer file to start the setup process.
2. If Windows Defender or SmartScreen shows a warning, click ‘More info’ then ‘Run anyway’ Cinebench is a verified safe application.
3. The installer will ask for admin rights click Yes to allow it.
4. By default, Cinebench installs to C:\Program Files\Maxon Cinebench 2024.
5. On macOS, drag the app to Applications no admin password is needed for this step.
6. macOS Gatekeeper may block the first launch approve it once via System Settings under Privacy and Security.
7. No account, login, or registration is required. Open the app and it is ready to run.
How to Run Cinebench 2024 for the First Time
Running the CPU Test
1. Open Cinebench 2024.
2. Choose Single-Core to test one core speed, or Multi-Core to test total CPU throughput.
3. Click the Start button and wait for the render to complete.
4. Your score appears in points, higher is better and faster.
Running the GPU (Redshift) Test
1. Select the GPU test from the test menu on the left panel.
2. Your GPU needs at least 8 GB of VRAM, the test will not run below this threshold.
3. The GPU test typically takes two to four minutes to complete.
How to Read Your Score
A higher score means faster rendering. Use the table below to see where your CPU lands. Only compare Cinebench 2024 scores with other 2024 scores, R23 numbers sit on a different scale entirely.
| CPU Tier | Expected Multi-Core Score |
| Budget (Ryzen 5 / i5) | 600 – 900 pts |
| Mid-Range (Ryzen 7 / i7) | 900 – 1,400 pts |
| High-End (Ryzen 9 / i9) | 1,400 – 2,000+ pts |
| Workstation (Threadripper) | 2,000+ pts |
For broader comparisons, community databases like Nanoreview and hardware review sites such as Tom’s Hardware maintain up-to-date score charts across hundreds of CPU models.
Tips to Get Accurate Cinebench 2024 Results
Your score is only meaningful if your system is in a stable, consistent state. Before you hit Start, go through these steps:
• Close every open app, browser tab, and background process before testing.
• If you are on a laptop, plug it in. Battery mode limits CPU and GPU performance automatically.
• Update your GPU drivers and chipset drivers before running the benchmark.
• Run one warm-up pass first, then record the second run as your official result.
• Set your Windows power plan to High Performance for the duration of the test.
• Pause antivirus scans and automatic indexing, these steal CPU cycles mid-render.
• Keep the room at a normal temperature. Heat causes CPUs and GPUs to reduce clock speeds automatically, pulling down your score.
Cinebench 2024 Not Working? Common Issues Fixed
Cinebench 2024 Won’t Open
The most common cause is a missing Visual C++ Redistributable package. Download and install the latest version from the official Microsoft website, then try launching Cinebench again. If it still fails, your download may be corrupted delete the file and re-download from the official source.
GPU Test Not Available
If the GPU test is greyed out or missing, your graphics card likely has less than 8 GB of VRAM, which does not meet the minimum threshold. Outdated GPU drivers can also block the test from running. Update your drivers from the Nvidia or AMD website and restart your PC before trying again.
Low Score After a Hardware Upgrade
A low score after upgrading usually points to thermal throttling. When a CPU or GPU gets too hot, it cuts clock speeds to protect itself. Check your cooler, thermal paste, and fan curves. Also make sure no background processes are eating CPU time during the test, and confirm your power plan is set to High Performance.
Cinebench Crashes Mid-Test
A crash during the run almost always means your system has less than 16 GB of RAM. On Windows, the test scene can cause severe paging on 8 GB machines, which leads to a crash. An unstable overclock is another common cause reset your CPU and memory to stock speeds and run the test again.
Final Thoughts
You now know everything you need to download, install, and run Cinebench 2024 correctly. The process takes less than ten minutes from start to score. You know how it compares to R23, what system specs you need, how to get clean and accurate results, and how to fix the most common problems if something goes wrong.
Benchmarking your CPU and GPU is one of the smartest things you can do after building or upgrading a PC. It confirms your hardware is working as expected, helps you spot thermal or stability issues early, and gives you a real number to compare against similar builds worldwide. Ready to test your CPU? Download Cinebench 2024 and see where you stand.